The Good News Gift The Second Sunday of Advent: Mark 1:1-8
1 This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It began as the prophet Isaiah had written: “God said, ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ 3 Someone is shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!’ ” 4 So John appeared in the desert, baptising and preaching. “Turn away from your sins and be baptised,” he told the people, “and God will forgive your sins.” 5 Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptised them in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced to the people, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. 8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
Other readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85:8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-14
LECTIO
Mark wastes no time with introductions. In the very first sentence he sets out the main focus: Jesus Christ. He boldly declares that Jesus is the Son of God – the Good News, euangelion, the word from which we get “Gospel”.
Mark then sets the scene for the story that is about to unfold. The main characters are God and his Son Jesus, John the Baptist and the people of Judea and Jerusalem. He reminds us that this story had its beginning within the Godhead. Hundreds of years earlier God revealed insights about what would take place through the Old Testament prophets. Mark only mentions Isaiah, but it is plain from the words we find in verse 2 that he is also drawing on Malachi 3:1, as well as Isaiah 40:3, for the rest of the prophecy in verse 3.
From the heavenly court the narrator jumps straight down to earth and the dusty Judean desert. He reveals a man called John preaching “a baptism of repentance”. John’s ministry is very successful. People flock into the desert to hear him preach. Many respond and demonstrate their sincere repentance by being publicly baptised in the River Jordan.
Exciting though this is, Mark wants to get the focus back to the main subject: Jesus.
So the second part of John’s message returns to the fulfilment of the prophetic words. John clearly proclaims that he is only preparing the way for someone else. Someone who has not yet come into public life. Someone who is far greater than even John. Someone who will bring a greater baptism. Someone who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.
MEDITATIO
Think about all the reasons Jesus is Good News. Why not start making a list? During this Advent season every time you see or hear something connected with Christmas spend a moment reflecting on one of these reasons.
What is so compelling about John’s ministry that people abandon city life, however briefly, to spend time with John in the desert?
ORATIO
Ask Jesus to give you the Holy Spirit to guide you in your life each day. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you follow Jesus more closely.
CONTEMPLATIO
The other readings this Sunday invite us to wait patiently for the Second Coming of Jesus. In the first reading the comforting words of God in Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11 tell the people of Jerusalem their sins are forgiven. The second reading, which is from 2 Peter 3:8-14, urges us to live more hopeful lives as we wait for the Second Coming of Jesus.
Lectio Divina is an ancient tradition of reading and engaging with God’s Word
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